Artificial tooth.



R. M. WITHYCOMBE.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED 001215, 1913.

1, 1 05,&?6, Patented July 28, 1914.

/9 j g 4kg w n ROBERT MORSE WITHYCO'MBE, 0F SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1914.

Application filed October 15, 1913. Serial No. 795,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnnr Monsr. Wirinconnn, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residing at Sydney, in t e State of New South \Vales, Commonwealth of Australia,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Artificial Teeth, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in artificial teeth, and to the fixing of same either on a dental plate or on the roots in substantially the same manner as a natural tooth works in its alveolar pocket, this being obtained by a specially-arranged cushion of soft rubber, placed at the base of the artificial tooth, (which expression includes a crown between the latter and the metal or vulcanite plate, or the top of the natural root. 1

In carryingout the invention in its preferred form, the tooth is fitted in a collar in such a way as to have a limited range of movement vertically therein leaving its occlusal surface protruding, and at the base of the tooth in a recess or cavity formed by the extended sides of the collar is placed soft vulcanizing rubber. If desired, a metal or other bottom may be attached to the collar to insure separation of the hard rubber or metal plate from the soft rubber, the shape of the collar and tooth insuring its retention in said plate. The tooth, with the collar attached is then placed in position and vulcanized into the plate. the soft rubber still retaining its resiliency. In the case of a root. the extendedsides of the metal collar are rigidly secured around it, as in crown work.

The rubber may be inserted into the cavity through an orifice or opening in the side of the collar, or through the masticating face of the tooth, which orifice is subsequently closed by a metal or other plug or porcelain cement. and in some cases, where practicable, the rubber may be inserted after vulcanization or attachment 'of the collar to the dental plate or root, in which event the rubber need not have soft vulcanizing properties, provided it is resilient. But in order that the invention may be clearly c0mprehended,reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of my invention applied to a dental plate. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the component parts of one of the artificial teeth in elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 83, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, .Fig. 3. The above figures relate more particularly to gold or vulcanite work. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modifi 'ation in which a collar is used, in this instance, applied to bridge work. Fig.0 is a similar view illustrating a different method of inserting the resilient material. Fig. 7 is a section on the line T7, Fi 5, and Fig. 8 is a section on the line S-8, Fig. (3. Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sectional elevations of artificial teeth with collars, Fig. 12 illustrating an artificial tooth or crown on a natural root instead of on a plate.

13 is a dental plate, 14. a porcelain or other artificial tooth having a hole 15.

16 is a layer or cushion of soft rubber, the resiliency of which is not appreciably affected by heat.

17 is a metal plate which may be employed in some cases and 18 a securing pin having the thread 19. The metal plate 17, when employed, is first vulcanized or other wise rigidly secured in the plate 13. The soft rubber 16 is placed over it and then the tooth 14-. the parts being held together by the pin 18 which takes intd the plate 1?. The plate 17 may, however, be dispensed with, and the end of the pin rigidly screwed directly into the plate.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 to 1'3, 9 is the tooth and 20 a collar, preferably of metal, the sides 21 of which converge upwardly in close conformity with the tooth. The lower or inner side portions 22 preferably retain a bottom piece 23 in position, but in bridge work this bottom piece is preferably integral with the collar.

In the forms illustrated in Figs. 5 to 13, the resilient material 16 may be placed in position prior to securing the lower end of the collar in the vulcanite or dental plate, as in Figs. 1O, 11 and 13, or it may be inserted subsequently in dough-like particles through lateral orifices as 24, as in Figs. 5 and 7, or through vertical orifices 25, as in Figs. 6 and 8, such orifices being closable by metal pins 26 or porcelain cement 27. In some cases the artificial tooth Y may beeretained in position by a securingpin18 and a collar 20.

In Fig. 12, the lower end 28 of the collar is permanently secured to the root 29 of a natural tooth, the resilient material being previously placed in position, or subsequently through orifices 24; or 25, which are afterward closed. 1

It is to be observed that in each of the several forms above described, the rubber cushion isdisposed wholly within the socket provided for it in or by the tooth-supporting memberfand is entirely concealed by the base of the tooth, and in this connection it maybe stated that the term supporting member, is intended to cover both the plate 13 andjth'e collar 20, irrespective of the nature of the part to which such member itself is attached, the socket referred to being, in consequence, either the seat or opening in the said plate, which rece1ves the tooth, or

the interior of the collar. By reason of thisparticular disposition of the cushion,

no portion thereof is exposed, but, on the contrary, the side wall of, the socket conforms closely to the shape of that of the 'tooth, so that the entry of secretions into the socket is prevented, with resultant avoidance of sepsis. For the same reason, more over, the rubber 1s prevented from bulging outwardly, during mastication, and the tooth itself .is securely held in place, under ordinarv conditions, while still being allowed restrict myself to any particular method of placing the resilient rubber in position, as it may be varied according to the nature of the work and the structure of the natural teeth of the patient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is z- 1 Y 1. An artificial tooth structure comprising a socketed tooth-supporting member a yieldingeushion arranged wholly within saidsocket, atthe bottom thereof; and a tooth fitted in said socket and having its base disposed directly against and completely concealing said cushion, whereby a portion of the pressureof mastication is taken up by the cushion.

2. An artificial tooth struoturecomprising' a' tooth-supporting"collar a yielding cushion disposed wholly within said collar, at the bottom thereof; and a-to'oth-fitted in said collar and having its base disposed directly' against ,and: completely concealing said cushion, whereby a port pn of the pressure of mastication is taken up by the cushion. I

3. An artificial tooth structure comprising a tooth-supporting collar; a yielding cushion 'made of dough-like particles of flexible rubber disposed wholly Within said collar, at the bottom thereof; a tooth fitted in said collar and having its base disposed said cushion, 'whereby'aportion'of the pressure or mastication is taken up by the cushion, said collar -and tooth constituting companion parts, one of which is provided "directly against and completely concealing:

with an orifice for the passage of the rubber particles therethrough: and a closure disposed in said orifice. i Y

4:. Anartificial tooth structure comprising a tooth-supporting collar; a yielding cushion made of dough-like particles of flexible rubber disposed wholly within said collar, at the bottom thereof; a tooth fitted in said collar and having its base disposed directly against and completely concealing said cushion, whereby a portion of the pressure of mastication is taken up by the cushion, said tooth being provided with a vertical orifice for the passage of the rubber particles therethrough; and a closure disposed.in said orifice.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT, MORSE ViITHYCOllIBE. 

